Variable range projectile



Oct. 3,l 1944. 1, FANGER 2,359,515

VARIABLE RANGE PRQJECTILE Filed April s; 1942 INVENTOR. l V HERMAN JT,9M/@ER BY t Y A TTOENEX Patented Oct. 3, 1944 UNITED S VARIABLE RANPROJ ECTILE Application April .6, 1942, Serial No. 437,733

9 Claims.

This invention relates to explosive projectiles as used in warfare, and,particularly to such projectiles as are shot from the mortar type ofguns and where it is important to predetermine the distance thelprojectile will carry, and the principal object of the presentinvention is to provide an explosive shell or projectile which may beadjusted to carry various distances with a given angle of trajection andgiven propelling explosive charge.

Other advantages include'an improved flight guiding 1in arrangement, anda, collapsible construction Which greatly conserves space in storing andtransportation. Other features and advantages of the invention willappear in the following description and accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side view of my improved projectile shown in collapsedcondition within the bore of a gun or mortar and with .parts of theprojectile shown in section.

Fig. 2 is a View similar to that of Fig. l but with the projectile inextended condition and further out in the gun barrel as after firing.

Fig. 3 is a cross section of the extendible tail fm portion of theprojectile as seen from the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Briey described the invention comprises an explosive projectile of thetype adapted to be projected from a mortar, with the addition of anassemblage of tail ns connected to the body of the projectile by meansof extendible arms so that the tail fm assemblage may -be pulled back,away from the projectile body and locked in any of several positionsagainst return movement, yet free to pull back to the full limit by theeffect of the firing charge as'the lprojectile passes along the barrelof the gun. By this means several things are accomplished:

1. A compact .projectile is automatically elongated with ight guiding nsstretched out in back to thereby give much better control of flight.

2. By pulling out the tail fln assemblage to various distances, beforefiring, the size of the explosion chamber in the gun beneath theprojectile may be predetermined, and since a uniform expelling charge isalways used, the size of the explosion chamber is inversely -related tothe distance the projectile will @be hurled.

3. By having the tail fin assemblage at the rear end of a light set ofarms and spaced a relatively long way in back of the body of theprojectile, it is therefore much more effective in controlling theflight of the moving projectile.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing I indicates a gun or mortar barrel, 2 the bore,3 the bottom or breech end of the bore, 4 a hub within the bore throughwhich the firing pin 5 operates, while 6 indicates an annular depressedIportion of the gun barrel forming a ring deposit receiving chamber.

, In Fig. 2 an advanced portion of the gun bar-A rel I is shown with theprojectile also advanced as well as extended togreater length due to theact of firing. The projectile comprises a cylindrical shell or body 1filled with any desired type of explosive 8, and having the usualpercussion head 9 or its equivalent for ring the shell charge throughsuitable fuse means not shown as the shell internal construction mayassume any of a variety of forms not involved in the present invention,though some of its external features are shown and claimed in my jointpending application for patent filed on April 18, 1942, under Serial No.439,456, as will be more fully explained.

The shell is preferably of substantially smaller I diameter than thebore of the gun and is fitted exteriorly with spaced ribs I0 which doyfit the bore and centralize the shell therein. The base of the shell isoutwardly flanged as at II and secured to the bottom of the ange is asoft metal cup-like member I2 preferably of very thin sheet metalfitting within the bore and supported within by a similar cup-likemember I3 of thicker rigid metal, both secured to the base of the shellas by one or -more screws I4 or otherwise.

Spaced around the body of the shell are longitudinally extending groovesI5 lying in which are rods I6 which slidably extend through alignedholes in the margins of members II, I2 and I3 and passing' rearwardlythrough an assemblage of ight control fins Il. These ns I'I are eachpreferably formed of two sheets of metal suit' ably riveted, welded, orotherwise fastened together and confrontingly indented to tightlyreceive the rear ends of rods Iii which are preferably riveted over attheir outer ends as at I6 and welded in place.

Fins I'I are radially disposed and shaped to form a centrally disposedcylinder I8 preferably reinforced by an inserted tube I9 and both arepierced by relatively large holes 26. The bore of the inner tube and itslength being such as to receive a conventional shot gun cartridge shell2| with its cap end flange 22 seated against the end of the tube asshown in Fig. 1 and its forward end just clearing screws I4 or plate I3when the n assemblage is in collapsed or telescoped position.

The radial portions Il of the ns are flanged outwardly at their ends asat 23 and riveted or welded to a ring or collar 24 of sheet metal whichslidably fits into the bore 2 of the gun or mortar, and the forward endsof the slidable rods I6 are bent slantingly downwardly or inwardly as at25 in a manner to engage successively a row of sockets or notches 2Bextending inwardly and slantingly forward as shown best in Fig. 1, allso -that from the collapsed or forward position of the tail n assemblageshown in Fig. 1, the assem-v blage may be pulled back to snap the rodends 25 into any of the. sockets 26 to thus` space theV n assemblage atany desired distance outward or in back of the base of the shell, and ofcourse carry the shot gun shell back also. To move the assemblageforward again if inadvertently pulled back too far the rods would haveto be. Dried upout of their sockets. Y

Cup members l2 and I3 are exposed; to the exa plosion gases of thecartridge shell' so as tor be expanded snugly against the wall of thegunbore,

the rear ends of said rodsv each embraced between the sheet metal layersof one of said radial ns and secured against withdrawal.

4. A projectile of the character described having an. elongatedcylindrical body, a plurality of grooves. extending longitudinally ofthe body,

v a plurality of rods slidably positioned in said similarly to theaction of the cup leather` of a f pump, and therefore provide a seal' asthe pro-v jectile is ejected.

In use, shot gun shells with a powder charge but without shot are usedto create the expelling pressure, and holes in the confining tubefacilitate its quick release through the disrupted wall of the papercase.

As the rearward spacing of the iin assemblage results in a forwardspacingof the projectile b ase it of course enlarges the explosionchamber of the gun accordingly, andlikewiselowers the effective pressureproduced, and reduces the range of the projectile. Therefore the use ofa stand? ard powder charge, and a predetermined spacingy of the sockets26 made after firing tests at various gun angles, makes it easy toprovide; a printed table, or rule for adjusting the telescopic tail nsfto secure the proper size explosion chamber forl the range desired.However, whether or not the tail n assemblage is drawn outward, it willalways automatically pull back to the limit after firing before leavingthe gun due to the fact that` the major force of the explosion isdirected against the base of the projectile body` and the inertia andfriction of the fin assemblage makes` it lag sumcient to pull therodsback until their` inwardly bent ends strike flange Il, and thus` thevalue of a ight guiding tail n'assemblage spaced a considerablekdistance behind the body of the projectile is alwayssecured.

In considering the construction it is. evidenti that the sockets ornotches -26 may just aswell be in the sides of the grooves l5 instead ofthe bottom if desired. Also that as the rods in fact form a plurality ofratchet bars, any yequivalent type of ratchet bars, rods, or wires maybe used.

Having thus described my inventionand the. manner of its use what Iclaim in the present, application is:

1. A projectile of the character described having an elongatedcylindrical body closed at itsl front and rear ends, a plurality ofgrooves .extending longitudinally ofthe body, aplurality of rodsslidably positioned 'in said kgrooves and extending rearwardlybeyond'the a flight the rear 0f the body, and stop means prevent-v ingtotal withdrawal of said rods, and means locking the rods when withdrawnagainst, for'v ward movement with respect-to the body.

2. In a construction as set outin claim 1.av flange on the base of theproj-ectilehaving-,holes through which saidfrods slidably extend tosaidtail fin assembly. l

3. In a construction as set out in claim 1 said tail n assemblyincluding a central tubular hub.. 'adapted to receive a cartridgeshell,- a plurality of radial ns projecting `from the hub,v said.radialflns being of two layers of sheet imetal and with grooves andextending rearwardly beyond the body; a flight; guiding tail finassemblysecured tothe rear ends*v of said rods whereby the tail flnassembly maybe moved from a position close tov the Vbody to'an extended positionspaced to the rear of the body, and stop means"preventing totalwithdrawal of said rods, and means locking the rods at various degreesof rearward extension against.. forward movement with respect to thebody.

5. Ina construction as set out in claim 4 th means locking the rods,against forward move-` ment .comprising spacednotches extending late.erall'y from said grooves, and the ends of said rods bent in a manner tospring into said sockets successively as they are drawn rearwardly. t

'6. In a projectile of the character described, a flight guiding tailiin freely accessible at the rear end of the projectile, and meansslidable withy respect to the projectile extendibly connectingsaid tail1in to the projectile whereby the tail fin may be manually positionedadjacent to the rear end of the projectile or extended and spa/cedrearwardly therefrom, and means for locking said tail iin when Withdrawnagainst forward movement, relative to said projectile, said tail finbeing an assemblage including a. centraly cartridge supporting socketadapted to align a. cartridge with the firing pin of a gun in which theYprojectile is placed. y

'7. Ina construction as set out in claim 6 stop means limiting the totalextension of the tail fin assemblage, and the means extendiblyconnecting the tail iin assemblage to the projectile being free enoughin its operation to permit the assemblage to lag and draw out theconnection to the limit of said stop means as the projectile, is redfrom agun.

8. In a projectile of the character described a flight guiding tail n atthe rear end of the projectile, and ratchet rods extendibly connect-`ing said tail fin to the projectile whereby the tail iin may bepositioned adjacent to the rear end ofA the projectile or extended andspaced rear, wardly'atv'ari'ous distances therefrom and locked by saidratchet rods against forward movement relative to the projectile whilepermitting. refverse movement to full extension after they projectileis` fired, said tail fin comprising a central tubular hub adapted toreceive a cartridge shell and radial fins extending from said hub.

9. In a projectile of the characterv described, a flight guiding tailiin at the rear end of the` projectile, and ratchet rods extendiblyconnett-Y ing said tail fin to the projectile whereby the tail fin maybe pOSitionedadjacent to the rear end -A ofthe projectile or extendedand spaced rearwardly atvario-us distances therefromandlocked by saidrachet rods against forwardV movement relative to the projectile whileYpierrrlitgting re,-

verse movement to full extensionafter the D IQfjectile is fired,saidtail fin comprising a tral tubular hub adapted to receive acartridge endsoi the radial ns Iand secured thereto.'

HERMAN J. t

